FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Suspect Shawn Thomas

IN-CUSTODY

On March 8, 2024, at approximately 1:21 PM, San José Police Department Patrol Officers responded to the 3200 block of Union Avenue for a delayed report of sexual assault of a minor. The incident was reported to have occurred sometime between 2002 and 2003.

Detectives from the San José Police Department Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force immediately began a thorough and comprehensive investigation. During the investigation, Detectives identified Shawn Thomas as the suspect. During the course of the investigation, Detectives determined the suspect was a teacher at Leigh High School and the female juvenile victim was a student at the school at the time of the incident.

At the time of suspect Thomas' arrest, he was working as a teacher at Leigh High School and a football coach and a track and field coach at Los Gatos High School.

On March 22, 2024, SJPD ICAC Detectives located and arrested suspect Thomas in the city of San José. The suspect was booked into Santa Clara County Main Jail for rape and sexual assault of a minor.

Anyone with information about this case or similar cases is asked to contact Detective Camarillo #4576 of the San José Police Department Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force via email: 4576@sanjoseca.gov or 408-273-2959.

Submit crime tips and remain anonymous by using the P3TIPS mobile app, calling the tip line at (408) 947-STOP, or on www.siliconvalleycrimestoppers.org. If the information you submit leads to an arrest, you are eligible for a cash reward from the Silicon Valley Crime Stoppers Program.